Mining Company Security Manager Interview

By Dan Gelinas, Published May 10, 2019, 07:00am EDT (Info+)

First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations in "several other countries."

At any given site, their security measures are protecting billions of dollars worth of equipment and undiscovered natural resources.

Managing security at selected sites has been Gary Egan's [link no longer available] job for nearly a decade.

In this end user interview, we talk with Egan, who is FQML's Security Manager for their Trident Project in Zambia. He is also back-up managing security at the company's Mauritanian copper mining operation during a colleague's absence, and inside shares on topics such as:

  • Why they use many brands of camera, including Hikvision
  • Why they like Milestone
  • Why they "have no loyalty, as it were, to a single brand"
  • How They Use Analog For A Specific Purpose
  • How he helps protect $2.6 billion in assets
  • How they use their cameras for business as well as security
  • How their special environments dictate "robust" equipment
  • Why they are evaluating facial recognition

****: **** ** ****?

**: **** ** * ********** ****** Canadian ****** ****** *******.

****: **** ***** **** **********? *** there ******** ** ***-********** *********** *** there *** *** ******* ******** **?

**: **** ******* ** * ***** operation ** ****** ** *** ***** 1990’s, *** ** *** * $**+ billion ******* **** *********** ***** *** over *** *****. ** ** *** a ********** ** *** ** *** peer *****, ****** * ******* ** the ******* ** *** ******* ***** its *********.

****: ***** *** *** *****/***** ** you ***** *** **********?

**: **** *** ********* ******* ** Canada, **, *********, *** ***** ****** and *********** ***** ** *********, ******, Spain, *******, ******, **********, *** ******, plus ********** *********** ****** ** ******* other *********.

****: ** *** **** * **** in ******** ******** ********** ** *** those *********? ** ** ******** ******* site-by-site ** **** ** **** **********?

**: ******** ** ******* ** * site-by-site ***** **** ********* ******** ******** and ***** ***** ** *** *****. Group ******** ** ******** ** *** Group ******** *******.

How ** ***** ******* $*.* ******* ** ******

****: ********* ****’* *** ***** ** the ***** **** ******** ******** ******* in ***** ** ********* *** ********/*********?

**: *** ******* ******* ** * $2.6 ******* *******.

****: *** **** **** *** **** a **** ******** ******* *** ****?

**: * **** **** **** **** for **** * ½ *****.

****: *** *** *** **** **** that ***?

**: * *** *** **** ***** Security ******* ****** ******** ** * contract ** ******* **** **** *** was ******* ** ******* ****

****: **** **** **** ******* *** on *** *** **** ****?

**: *** *** **** ***** ** reviewing ******* **** *** ******** ***** and ******* **** *** ********* **** require ********* *********—*** ***** **** ****** the *****. ******** *********** ** ******* to *** ******* ******* *** ***** Security ******* ** **** **** *** up ** ***** ** *** ****** that *** ****** *** ****** ** personnel *** ********** ** *** ****. From ***** ** **, ***** *** is *********.

****: **** ***** ** ************* (*******, access *******, *********, *****, **** ************, etc.) *** ***** ********* ** *** manage?

**: *** ************ ***** ** ****, access *******, ******** ***** *******, **** detection *******, *** ******* ******** *******. The **-***** **** **** **********, ************** and *** ********* **** ** *** security **********. ************, ** **** ******** contractors **** ******* * ******* ** services ** *** ****.

****: **** ** *** **** *** scope ** ***** ******* *********?

**: ****-**** ** **** ** ** staff, ******* ******* **********, ********* *** investigative, ********* ** ******** *********** **** provide ****** ********, **********, **, ********* patrol *** ***** ****** ******, *** a ***** ******** ***** ** ***.

****: *** **** ******* *** ******* do *** ****?

**: *** ******** ****** ********* ***+ cameras, ***** *** ****** ******* ****** has ************* **,***+ ********, ***+ ***** systems, *** **+ **** ********* *******.

****: *** *** *** ************** *** administering **** ************ *** ****** ******* systems, ******** ** **?

**: ******** *********** *** ******** *******.

****: **** *** **** ****** *** pushback **** ****** ***** ******* ** public ***** ** **** *****?

**: **.

****: *** ** *** ******* ********* together? *** ** *** ******* *** communicate, *** *******?

**: *** ******** ****** *** *** own ******* ********** ** *****, ******** CAT6 *** ***** *****. ********** ******** switches ******* ****** ** *** **************.

****: *** ********* ********. **** ********* have *** ****?

**: ** ** *** *** ******** cameras ** *** *******. ******** ***** utilize ******** *****, ***** ** **** found ** ** ******** ** *** conditions, *** ****-*********.

****: ** *** **** * ********* or ********* ******* *** **** ******* and ***** *******?

**: ** **** * ********* ******** network ** ***** *** ******** ******* systems *** *********.

****: **** **** *** ****** *** over *** *****?

**: **** *** ******, ** ****** to **** ******** ******* ** *** systems. ****** ******** ********* ** *******, security ******* **************, **** *** ******** critical *******, ****** ** ****-**** **** presentation ** ***** ******* ** ******** can ** *********** ** *** *************. By ***** ** ******* ** *** complete ******, *** ******** ********** *** also ****** *** *************, *********** *** changes **** *** ** ******** ** meet *** ******** **********.

****: ** *** ******* ****** ******* to ****** ** ** ************* ******** limit **** *******?

**: *** ******* **** **** ****** to *** ******** ************** *** ******** connected *** ** ** *** ***** remote *******. ************ ** *** **** of ****** ************ *** ********** *** the ******* *** ********** ***** ************ and ********* *** ********* ****** *********, should *** ******** ******* **.

****: ****, ** ***, ******** ************* audits **** *** *** *** ******** systems *******?

**: **** ** * ********* ******* process **** ** ******* ********* ********** and **** ** ******** ****** *** ability *** ****** ****** ** ********.

****: **** ** *** ************ ******* Security *** ** ** ****?

**: *** ******** ********** *** *** own ********* **** ** **** ***** the ******** *******. *** ********** *** a **** ******* ************ **** ** and **** **** ***** ***** ****, and **** ** ****, ** *** when ********.

****: *** ** *** ******/******** ******** integrators ** **** ****?

**: *** **** ** ****** *** we *** ********* **** **-***** ** have *** ********* ********* ******** ** the *********** ******** ******* ** **** we ** *** **** ** **** completely ** ********* *** ***********. ** have *** ********* ********* *** **** selected *** ***** ********* ********* *** reliability ** **** ** ***** ******* early ** ** *** *******.

****: ** *** **** ****** ** the ****** ** **** ********* ** consultants **** ** ***** ** **** security **** ** *** *** ** the ******** ******** *** ******* ********/*********?

**: ** ** * *** ** ongoing ******** **-***** ** **** ** improve *** ************ ** *** ******. Additional ******** ** *** ****** *** driven ** ************ *** *** ** ourselves *** ** *** ******** *****.

****: *** *** **** *** **** suppliers ***? *** **** ******* ************ or *** *** ******* ******** **** manufacturers, *********?

**: *** **** ********* *** *********** rather **** ******** ************. **** **** selected *** ***** ********* ********* ** the ********* ** *** *******. ** do **** ****** **** ************* ** certain ********* **** ** *** ****** purchasing * “***” *** ******* *** design, *************, ************ *** *********** ** the **** *** ** ****. ********* skills **-***** ***** ** ** ******* and ******** *** ******* ******* *** necessity ** ****** **** ** *** suppliers.

****: **** ************ ********—******* *** *****—**** you ****?

**: *** ******* *** ** ********* and ** **** *** ** * variety ** *******, ********* ** **** the ******** *********** **.

Why **** **** *********

****: **** ** ** ***** **** chosen ****** **** *** ****?

**: *******, ******, ****, *** ***********.

Why **** "**** ** *******, ** ** ****, ** * ****** *****"

****: **** *** **** ******** *** brands ** ********* (*******, ***, ********, etc.) ****** **** ****** *** ** so **** **** *** ****** *** were *** ***** **** *** ******.

**: ** **** * ******* ** cameras *** **** *** ******** ** described *******, ********* ** *** ******** requirement ** ** **** ** *******, as ** ****, ** * ****** brand. *** *** *** *** ******* infrastructure *** *** ******** ****** ** per *** ************** *** ****** ********** approved.

Why **** *** **** ****** ** ******, ********* *********

****: **** *** **** ******** ** the *** ******* ** ****** ************* Dahua *** *********?

**: * **** ***** *** ******* reports, ***. **** **** *** **** of *** ********* ******** **** ***** reports **** ******* ** *** ******* systems. ** ** *** **** ********* kits, ** **** ***** **** ** be ****-*********, ******** *** **** **** deliver ************ ***********. ** *** ******** system ** *********** **** *** ********* IT *******, ** *** **** ** risk ** *** ******* **** *** units. *******, ********** *** ********* *** cyber ********* ** *** ******* ** a ********* ******* ********.

****: **** ************** ********* **** ***** ****** **********? ** **** * ******* **** an ******* **********?

**: ** * ********** ** ****, I **** **** ******** **** ******** the ********* ********* ** *** **, UK *** ****** ******* *** ****** articles **** **** ******** ** *** IPVM ******* *** *** ******** ** appear ** *** **** *****. * will ******** ** ****** *****, *** any ****** ************, ************ **** ******* to ********* ***** ************ * **** purchased ***** ** *** ******** ***** are *** *********.

****: *** ***** ** *** ******** new ****** *** ******** **********?

**: ** ****** ***** ** ******** requirements. **** * *********** ** ********, a ***** **** ** ******, **** technology **** ** ******** *** ********* to **** **** ***********.

****: *** ** **** ******* *******? For *******, *** ** *** ********/***** new ******* *** ******** ****** *** existing ********* ******? ** ** **** you ** ** ** ******* * committee?

**: *** ******** *** ****** *** evaluated ** *** ******** *********** *** technical ***** **** ***** **** *** departments ********** *** ******* ** ****** the ****** **** ******* ** *** the ***** *** ************ ***.

Tech *****

****: **** ** **** ******* *** on **** *******? ** **** **********? Does ** **** **** ** ** more? *** ** **** ** ****?

**: **** ****** ** *** ** based ** *** ******** ******** ***********. The ******* ******* *** *** ******** is ***** ***** ******** ** *** required ******* *** *** **** ************ network, ******* ******* ******** ******** ******* are *** ** ****** ***** *****.

****: *** **** ****** ** ********** are ***** **** **** ***/******/*******/***** ************?

**: *** ********, *******, *** ***** have ********** ***** **. ** ** example, ****** ****** ** ******** **** have * ******* ***** ** ****, backed ** ** ** ****** *** and * *********.

****: **** **** ******* **** **** down? *** *** ********** **** ******?

**: ** **** *** * *** technical ****** **** *** *****, **** related ** ****** ******** ***********. ***** issues **** **** ******** *** ** was *** ******* ** ********** ***** has ********** ********* ** ******.

****: ** *** ** **** ****** monitoring? ** *** **** ******* **** as ** ***** ***** ****?

**: *** ****** ** ********* **** 24/7/365 ** *** **** ******* **** consisting ** ***** ********* *** * supervisor ** *** *****. *** ******* are ******** *** * ****** ** no **** **** ** ****.

****: ** *** *** *** ***** monitoring ** ***?

**: **.

****: **** **** ******* ** ******* are **** ******* ********** **** ************?

**: ** (**** ****) *** *** (High ***** ****) *** *** *** most ******* **** ******* *********.

****: ** *** ***** **** *** analog *******?

**: ***.

How **** *** ****** *** * ******** *******

****: ***** **** *** ** ****** and **, ***** ***** *** *** are ******, ***** ** *****, ****** or **?

**: ** ******* ********** ******* ** with ****** ********** *** ***********. *** analog ***** ** **** ****** *** utilized *** ******** ******** ***** ** the **** **** *** ********* ** an ********** ** ****, ** **** not ** ********* ** ********* *** analog *****. **** **** ***** **** be ****** *** **** ** ******** that *** ******* *** **** ** enhanced *************.

****: **** *** *** ******** ******** you *********?

**: *** ****** ******* *** **** thermal ***** *** *** ********* ** analytics ********. ***** *** **** *** perimeter **********—********* *** ********. **** *** set ** ********* ***** *** ***** are **** ****** ***** ********* ********** and ***** *** ********* ***** ** cover *** ***** ********. *** ***** in ******** *** *******—***—** ******* *** cameras **** * ***** **** ** sight. *** **** *** ******** ******** procedures *** ********** ***** ** ****** generated ** *** ******* ********** *** the ******** ******* ****.

How ***** ******* ************ ******* "******" *********

****: **** ******* ************** *** ***** with * *****-***** ************ ****** ** your ****** ********** **** *** ******’* have **, ***, * ****** ******, or ** ****** ********?

**: *** ********* ******** **** ** robust *** **** *** ******* ** work ******** ** ***** ************ **** as *** ****’*. ************* ********** **** as ******** ****, **** **** *** dust ******* **** ********* **** **** specific ********** ************** ******** ** ****. Dense **** ****** ** ******** ***** cover *** ***** ** ********* **** the **** **** ******* **** ******** and ****** ********, ** ********* ************ that *** ****** *********** ** **** environment ** *********.

****: **** ***** ** ************ ************ are *** ******* *****? **** *** thermal ** ** *** *** ****** like *****?

**: ** ******* ******* ************. **’* not *********, *** ** **** ***** not ******** ** ******* **** ***** be ********** ******** ** **** ***** within *** ****, ** *** *********** of ******* ************ ******** ** **** the ******* ** ****** **** ****** daylight ***** *** ***** *** * long *****, ** ** ****+.

****: *** ***** ** **** ******* help *** ** ***** *** * problem? *** ******* *****, *********, ******** up * *****, ***.?

**: *** ****** *** ******** ******** numerous ***** ** *** **** ** catch *******, ********* ********* ** **** as ********** ** ********* ** **** procedures. **** **** *** ** * deterrent ******* ******* **** *** ****** operations ** *** ****.

****: **** **** **********?

**: ******* ******* *** ****** *** egress ****** ** *** **** *** ensure ** ********** ** **** *******. The ****** **** ******** ********** ***** where ****** ** ***** ***** ** controlled **** ** **********, *********, **********, mining, ***.

****: *** ****, **** ***** ** actions *** *** ******* ***** **** might "****** **********?"

**: ********* *****, *** ****** *** assisted ******** ** ***** ******* ****** the **** ******** ** **** ** would ** ******* ********** ** ********** the **** *********.

****: *** *** *** ***** ******** vision ** ***** **********?

**: *** ************ *** ********** ******** as **** ****** *** ****** **** mature. ** ** *** ******** ****, rather **** *** ********** **** ****** any *************** ** *** ************. *********, intelligent ********* *** *********** ** ******* points ****** *** **** ***** ******* the ******* **** **** ***** ********* and ******** ************.

Why **** *** ********** ****** ***********

****: **** ***** ***** ******** ************?

**: ***** ************ **** ** *** and ****** *********** *** ***** ********** reviewed ** ****** ******** *** ******* the ******** ****** *** *********** *** the ****** ** *********.

****: *** ************, ** *** *** facial ***********?

**: ** ** ***. ** *** looking ** ******* **** *******, *** in * **********- **** *** *** slow-moving *********** ** **** ** ******** we *** ******* *** ************* ** the ********.

****: *** ***** ***?

**: ** *** ******* ** **** systems, *******, ** *** * *** priority ** **** **** *** *** local *********** ** *** ********* ** utilizing **** ********** ***********.

****: *** *******, **** ***** *******/******* behavior *********?

**: ** ********* ** *** ******* a ******** *********** *** ****, *******, our ********** ********* *** ********* *** training ** **** ********** ***** ** 2019.

****: ** ******* *** *********/********* **** a *******?

**: **** ********** *** ****** **** supportive **** ********* *** ********* *************, expansions ** ******** **** **** ********* for *** *******.

How **** *** ***** ******* *** ******** ** **** ** ********

****: **** ** *** ******* *** determining ****** ********* ********** *** ************?

**: ******** **** ****** ****** ***********. The ****** ** ***** ** **** assist *** ******** ******** ***** ** achieving ***** ********** *** ** ******* the ****** ** *** ********.

****: *** *** **** ** ** example ** * ******** ****** **** has ** **** ******* **** **** is **** *** **** ******** *** business ************? *** **** ** ***** a ******** ********?

**: ******** ******** ***** ***** ** the **** ******* ***** ******* **** for *********** ********, *** ****** ********** for ****** ******** *** **** ********. There *** ******** ********* ** *** site ***** **** ** *** **** camera ****. ** ******** *** ***********, the **** ****** ******* *** ******* to ****** *** *********, **** ** a ****** ******** ** *** ******** as ** ******* ****** *** ***** are **** ******** ** ******** ** protect *** ******* ******.

****: **** *** **** ******** ** resolution? ** ** ***** ***** ** 4K, *** *******?

**: **** **** ****** ** *** business ************ *** *** *** ******. It ***** ** **** ** **** 4K ******* **********, *** ********* *** requirement **** *** ******* *** ****. The *** *** ********** ** *** market ** *********** **’* ******** * matter ** **** ****** ** ******* the ****.

****: **** *** **** **** *****-****** cameras?

**: ** **** *** *** *** need *** ***** ****** *******.

****: **** ********* ****** *** ******** be ***** **? *** *******, *** should ******** ************ ** **** ** novel **** *** **** ********** ************ do *** ***** **** **** *** biggest ******?

**: **** ********* *** *********** *** now ******** **** ** *** **** in *** ******** ******** **** *** implementation ** ********* **** ** ***** which *** ******. *** **** ***** is ** ********, **** *** *********** of ******** **** ********* ********* **** a ******* ******* ********, *****, **** a ********, ******, *** *********** *********** provide *** “*******” ******* **** **** a **** ******** *** ******** **** of *** ******.

Comments (3)

Undisclosed #1

05/11/19 12:11am

IPVM: What about Hikvision profiting from human rights violations? Is that a concern from an ethical standpoint

The question should be asked, however, and you can call me bitter and cynic.. but I must admit I find it ironic to ask this question to a mining company that works in Zambia and Mauritania. Many mining and oil and gas companies profit from exploiting the worlds poorest nations and work in countries with a horrid human right situation.

And that is without even going into the environmental damage they cause and their exploitation of corrupt regimes and lack of regulation in Africa and other countries that allows them to do this damage.

I honestly don't think that the politics of the country of origin of the cctv camera is even on their mind....

Agree: 4
Disagree
Informative: 3
Unhelpful: 1
Funny

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/13/19 07:12pm

It isn't easy to get end-users to open up about their security practices.  This series is extremely valuable in providing IPVM subscribers real-world insights from end-users. 

U1 assumes that FQML has no ethics because they operate in the third world and mine minerals.  Unless we know of specific issues we should thank FQML for their candor and move on.

Let's NOT turn this good post into a debate on mineral extraction or post-colonial exploitation.  There are other forums for those discussions.

Agree: 2
Disagree
Informative: 1
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed #2

05/13/19 02:30am

Finally...a type of security setting that I have not had any experience with. Good information and insight on the interviewer and interviewee. I get the logistics, but actually got a few good take aways from this this report. Thanks.

Perhaps IPVM can interview some GSOC operations not from just a 1 on 1 interview but from a 4:1 interview covering different vertical markets that utilize GSOC, Monitoring, UL Monitoring, Video Wall Operators, GSOC integrations and situational awareness per their business scope or operating methods. IT GSOC, Hydroelectric Dam/Power Plant GSOC, Banking GSOC extended branch response and Corporate IT GSOC with physical guards/fleet vehicle multi site. 

It would be a lengthy report or interview, perhaps have a podcast or video forum? C'mon IPVM...dive deep.

Thanks for the work Dan G.  /thumbs up!

Agree: 1
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny
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